Schroeder's rival scores boost in leadership quest

The World - In Brief

October 3, 2005

DRESDEN, Germany -- Conservative challenger Angela Merkel's party won a boost Sunday for her quest to become Germany's first female chancellor by gaining a seat in the last remaining district in parliamentary balloting. Merkel's Christian Democrats won the contest for a seat in Dresden with 37.0 percent over Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's party with 32.1 percent. The result increased the narrow edge held in parliament by Merkel's party from three seats to four, 226-222 over the Social Democrats in the 614-seat lower house.